Marciano's place in heavyweight history

Three.

 

If we're talking legacy, and not head to head, then I think #10 is rather low.. I myself rate him #3 by virtue of his claim to never having lost, clearing out his entire division, and retiring with the highest KO percentage of all time.. We can criticize some of his opposition, but we can also do that to most champions..

 

3rd also. In my opinion he is a lock for 3rd, and Ali and Louis are top 2 locks.

1) Ali
2) Louis
3) Marciano
4) Lewis
5) Frazier
6) Holmes
7) Holyfield
8) Tyson
9) Liston
10) Foreman

This is my criteria:
- 40% ability/skill
- 30% Wins/competative losses over elite competition
- 20% Physical attributes/toughness
- 10% adaptability/stylistic range

 

The important thing about rating fighters relative to history is to have some viable form of criteria. So often I see people rating this fighter or that without laying down the criteria. The rating is one thing, but it's too subjective without guidelines.

 

When I thnk about legacy he is 3-5 with Johnson and Holmes. But when it's about his competition it's 7-12

 

My recent top 10:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. Lennox Lewis
5. Jack Johnson
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Rocky Marciano
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Sonny Liston

 

The only part of my top 10 that I'm absolutely certain of is:

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Marciano

After #3 it gets complicate, and I often switch fighters around from time to time..

 

Tenth is about right, imo.

 

In the top 5, for certain.

 

I rate him #3 behind Ali and Louis. Historical rating for me is determined by record against the men of one's own era. Marciano beat the best of his time, all by ko, cleaned out the division and retired undefeated. So I rate him near the top in an historical ranking.

 

top 3. no lower than 5.

 

This

 

as the threads have focused on marciano lately, i've found myself re-evaluating him. ironically for a fighter with no losses, his record does not do him justice nor tell the whole story. the accounts of his fights and viewing the footage we have is necessary to give a feel for his genius. like most, he had his weaknesses but he was one of the best at accentuating his strengths so that his faults were rarely exploited by his opponents. he rose consistently to the level of his opposition and his fitness, physical strength, toughness and tenacity is virtually unmatched in the modern era

top 5 for me. no higher...yet

 

I have him at 6 myself.